Affordable Care Act

If you need coverage, you can use the Marketplace. If you have coverage, you gain new protections. If you don’t have coverage, you may have to pay a fee.

The Marketplace and what’s changing in 2014

Whether you’re uninsured, you’ve been denied coverage in the past, or you just want to explore new options, the Health Insurance Marketplace will give you more choice and control over your health coverage. The Marketplace will operate in all states, so no matter where you live you’ll have access to coverage.

In the Marketplace, you can compare coverage options based on price, benefits, quality, and other features important to you. You can choose the combination of price and benefits that fits your budget and meets your needs.

You can get lower costs on coverage: The Marketplace application will tell you if you’re eligible for a new way to get lower costs on your monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs for private insurance. You’ll also learn if you can get free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Essential health benefits are covered in the Marketplace: All plans must offer a comprehensive set of essential health benefits including doctor visits, preventive care, hospitalization, prescriptions, and more.

Pre-existing conditions will be covered: Plans won’t be able to deny you coverage or charge you more due to pre-existing health conditions, including a pregnancy or disability.

You can get help in your area: If you need help finding a plan, several kinds of help will be available to give you personalized assistance with the process.

Fees begin: Beginning 2014, most people are required to have health coverage. If they don’t, they may have to pay a fee.

Rights & Protections

The health care law offers new rights, consumer protections, and benefits like free preventive care.

Whether you need health coverage or have it already, the health care law offers new rights and protections that make coverage fairer and easier to understand.

Some rights and protections apply to plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace or other individual insurance, some apply to job-based plans, and some apply to all health coverage.

These rights and protections provide even more choice and control over your health coverage when key parts of the law take effect in 2014.

Use this guide to learn about your rights and protections today and in 2014.

How the health care law protects you

Creates the Health Insurance Marketplace, a new way for individuals, families, and small businesses to get health coverage

Requires insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing health conditions

Helps you understand the coverage you’re getting

Holds insurance companies accountable for rate increases

Makes it illegal for health insurance companies to arbitrarily cancel your health insurance just because you get sick